As woman now is man’s equal partner, she must share in the difficult
task of solving the many problems connected with the economic, social
and political life of that nation to which she belongs. That she will
assume this obligation, fully aware of its significance, cannot be
doubted; we need only recall the noble spirit, enthusiasm, intelligence
and perseverance which have distinguished all the leaders in the great
movement for woman’s emancipation.
Woman’s mission in the future will be many-sided. Paramount among all
questions, that demand her utmost consideration, is the prevention of
future wars. And it may be said right here that mankind, through the
efforts of women, will most probably find the final realization of hopes
cherished for centuries by all right-minded people. We hardly need point
to the glaring contrasts between the Peace Congresses called together by
women at the Hague and in Zurich, and the conferences held by men at
Versailles to secure a League of Nations. While the former meetings were
distinguished by the perfect harmony and cordiality among the delegates
of all belligerent and neutral nations, and while their resolutions
expressed the good will and lofty disinterestedness of all members, the
wearisome discussions at Versailles were characterized by suspicion,
avarice and merciless extortion. The “Allies” no longer spoke for a
common cause, but were rivals over the spoils of war. Each clamored for
an individual gain. And instead of extending brotherly hands to the
conquered enemy, instead of instilling hope in the hearts of the
desperate, and instead of feeding the starving, they increased the
bitterness and sufferings by an unwarranted and cruel blockade, through
which more than a million innocent children and women were condemned to
agony and death.
Many far-seeing men have expressed grave doubts that the “Covenant of
Peace” and the “League of Nations” can prevent future wars. So we hope
that women, who would again become the greatest sufferers through such a
catastrophe, will continue in their efforts to re-establish
international good will and solidarity. Deep abysses of antagonism must
be bridged; hate and the thirst for revenge must be quenched, and
thousands of smarting wounds must be healed before humanity can hope for
a better future. But women can perform these wonders. Since the
organization of the “International Woman’s Peace Party” the voice of
women will be heard in the council of nations, and their influence will
be mighty, for the women outnumber the men.
Most naturally the demands of women will also be directed to an
international regulation of women’s relations to men, which in most
countries are far from satisfactory. The World War has emphasized the
fact that in almost all countries women, on marrying foreigners, forfeit
their own nationality and are compelled to adopt that of their husbands.
Thus it happened in 1914 that many French and English women, having
married Germans or Austrians, residents or citizens in France or
England, were deported from their native countries, at the same time
losing all personal property that they were unable to take with them.
Under the laws of the United States a loyal American woman, who marries
an alien enemy, becomes herself an alien enemy, while a woman enemy
alien who marries an American becomes herself a loyal American. By
allowing the woman no choice of allegiance this law works injustice both
to her and to the country.
An international agreement has been proposed that women shall not be
deprived of their own nationality against their will, irrespective of
marriage, and, when deported into enemy territory, shall be restored to
their own country.—
Full equality between husband and wife, father and mother is also
desired in regard to property and responsibilities, especially parental.
In some countries, as for instance in Great Britain, under the existing
laws only the father is recognized as the guardian of the children. He
is the sole judge of what shall be their maintenance and education; and
he has, prima facie, the sole right to their custody.
Another important question which demands regulation through
international agreement, is the suppression of the White Slave Trade,
that horrible evil, which under the imperfect conditions of civilization
has assumed such amazing proportions. To abolish it, women have
presented to the League of Nations Commission resolutions saying, that
States who enter into the League shall undertake to suppress the sale of
women and children and to punish severely the traffic in women, whether
under or over age, and of children of both sexes, for the purposes of
prostitution.—
The suppression of tuberculosis, of syphilis and other venereal diseases
is likewise a serious problem calling for international regulation. The
energetic co-operation of women is of utmost importance, as far too
often innocent women become sufferers from these horrible diseases
through infection from their unscrupulous husbands, who have concealed
from their wives the fact that they were afflicted with such maladies.
The supervision of such diseases by health officers, and the provision
of clinics for all infected persons will be demanded by woman
legislators; likewise penalizing for infecting with venereal diseases.
While in most countries no questions are asked in regard to the health
of the candidates for marriage, it has been through the activity of
women, that the new marriage law that came into force in Norway on
January 1st, 1919, demands that both candidates must declare in writing
that they are not suffering from epilepsy, leprosy, syphilis,
tuberculosis, or other diseases in an infectious form. Written
declarations must also be given as to previous marriages and to children
born to them out of wedlock. As this new marriage law contains not less
than eighty-one sections, it is evident that henceforth in Norway it
will be difficult to marry in haste.
Such laws for the protection of women are nowhere more needed than in
the forty-eight States which together form the American Union. As
everyone of these States makes its own laws, there exists a variety of
laws in regard to the “age of consent,” to marriage and divorce, far too
intricate for any woman or lawyer to be thoroughly informed about them
all. For instance the legislators of Florida have fixed the “age of
consent” at 10 years (!), documenting herewith their utter ignorance in
such a serious question. In other States it is 12 or 14 years, in
Wyoming it is 18. How competent women think about this subject, may be
judged by a resolution of the “Woman’s Political Association of
Australia,” asking the Government to raise the age of consent to 21
years, and to extend this provision to cover girls as well as boys.
Very heterogeneous are also the marriage laws of the United States. In
Tennessee girls may marry without their parents’ consent when only
twelve years old, while in other states they must not do so before
eighteen, or even twenty-one. Missouri is one of the few states which
still recognize common law marriages. As this state sets no minimum
legal age for marriage, a boy or girl of twelve may without their
parents’ consent live together as man and wife.
Still more perplexing is the diversity in regard to the causes for
absolute divorce. While South Carolina grants no divorce, other states
are very liberal and acknowledge eight or ten different reasons as
sufficient reasons for divorce. Marriages between Whites and Indians, or
between Whites and Negroes or persons of negro descent, or between
Whites and Chinese are prohibited and punishable in a number of states,
while they are allowed in others.
Improvement in the status of the illegitimate child; child-labor and
welfare; woman’s status in industries; mothers’ insurance during
maternity; proper insurance for the invalid and aged; combating of
alcoholism; the suppression of the traffic in opium and other injurious
narcotics; the traffic in arms, especially with uncivilized or
semi-civilized tribes and nations, and many other questions call for
international regulation and the co-operation of women. To compare the
laws of the various countries and to select the best and clearest laws
to be used as a standard to which other states should be urged to raise
their legislation, will be one of the great missions for the women
lawyers connected with the various national leagues of women voters.
That women have the ability as well as the hearty desire to contribute
in this way to the progress and welfare of the human race, needs no
further explanation. It is for the men to accept and encourage their
help and to utilize it to the fullest extent. The beneficial result of
such co-operation can not be doubted. Women with their intuitive
judgment, spiritual insight and knowledge of the needs of women,
children, public education, sanitation, philanthropy, etc., will become
a most important factor in the vast task of human betterment. And man,
working with woman side by side in these noble endeavors, will not only
profit, but learn that nature has given him nothing more sublime than
woman.
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